Stone statuary and method of constructing same



May 19, 1925.

A. A. LYON STONE STATUARY AND ME'II-ICD OF CONSTRUCTING SAIE Filed May 25, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. A. LYON STONE STATUARY AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1923 F7)? 7 21 c I I attozwmqq 9 6 J0 m F 7 DEV??? a K Patented May 19, 1925.

ALLEN A. LYON, 0F BELVIDERE, ILLINOIS.

STONE STATUARY AND METHOD OF GONSTRUCTING SAME.

Application filed May 1923. Serial No. 641,461.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ;/\LLEN,A. LYON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Belvidere, in the county of Boone and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Iinproven'ients in Stone Statuary and Methods of Constructing Same, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to flower stands and analagous articles of an ornamental character for outdoor decoration, having for its primary object the provision of an improved ornamental exterior surface formed by embedding pebbles, crushed stone or other objects therein.

Another important object of the inven tion resides in a novel process for the production of such articles and embedding ornamental particles in the walls thereof.

A further object is to furnish an improved flower stand or receptacle of a hollow moulded construction produced by a novel and improved process.

A still further object of the invention is the production of a flower stand of moulded construction which may be formed in sections, an improved means being used for connecting various ones of these sections together, for permitting communication between the interiors thereof.

The above and other objects are attained by certain novel features and processes of construct-ion as will be more fully set forth in the following description, and pointed out in the claims.

In order that the invention may be better understood reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown for the purpose of illustration.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is an elevation of a completed stand constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through a built-up mol 'd showing a completed stand therein;

Fig. 3 is a sectional viewshowing the first molding frame and the first step in building the stand;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section of the first molding frame illustrating the second step in the formation of the base of the stand;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing how the column of the stand is formed;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken through one of the frames illustrating the formation of the-top of a column;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the form for forming a pedestal and the support for the bowl;

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate the means for forming the bowl of the stand;

Fig. 10 shows a plan view of one of the frames, and

Fig. 11 shows a plan view of the pedestal form and its supporting arms.

Referring specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, 5 denotes one of the building frames, the same being best shown in Fig. 10, the walls thereof being separably connected at their ends by means of bolts or other similar fastenings 81.

In carrying out the invention, the frame 5 is placed upon a smooth surface and an inner frame 6 is placed therein, this frame being of the desired form and dimensions for the base of the stand. The frame 6 hav ing been placed within the frame 5, the space between the walls of the respective frames is filled to the top edge of the frame 6 with sand 7. The sand is firmly packed, whereupon the frame 6 is removed and the wall of sand 7 which is formed by the frame 6 is studded with crushed stone, pebbles or other ornamental particles which are desired for the outer surface of the base. This operation having been performed, concrete or other plastic substance from which the stand is to be constructed is poured into the opening and leveled smooth to the upper edge of the sand. The base 9 is thus formed, its outer edges being studded with the ornnamental pebbles or particles 8.

The base 9 having been thus formed, the hollow supporting column of the stand is nextconstructed. In order to form the column of the stand, annular frames 10 and 11 are employed, being placed upon the base in proper location with the latter within the former, a space 12 being left between their walls. The frames 10 and 11 being in place the upper surface of the base 9 outside of the frame 10 is studded with pebbles or other ornamental particles 8, it being understood that the base will be suliiciently soft to receive the same. This having been done, sand is packed into the frame 5 upon the base and around the outer walls'of the frame 10 to a level with the top of frame 10.

Sand is also placed within theframe, 11 tothe top thereof forming a sand cylinder 7. After the sand has been sufficiently packed to hold its form, the frame 10 is gently elevated a considerable distance but not enough .to take it, out, of the, sand,7. The wall of sand vacated by-the frame 10 is now studded with pebbles 8, whereupon the frame. 11 is elevated totlie same height as the frame 10 and concrete poured into the space .12 forming aportionof the cylindrical column 13 of the 'stand. The frames 10 and 11 having been elevatedas shown by the dotted lines inFig. 5,; sand is again poured into the mold andpacked around the frame 10,, being likewise pouredintothe frame 11 In Fig. 6, the methodof forming the top of the. column is illustrated, The frames 10 and ll have been removed it being um der-stood that the heights of-the sand cylinder 7, the wal1s13 and the sand at theoutside thereof are equal. A frame 14 of an nular or other form the .size of the top .of the column is placed above the top of the Walls 13 and.properly positioned with respect thereto. A smallrin'g15is then. placed upon the sand cylinder 7? in a central position at theupper end thereof, .after which sand is built u'paround the outer edges of the frainel to the-top edge thereof and packed firm. Sand is also poured within the ring 15, and firmly packed. E The frame lt is then removed and the inner wall of sand is studded with pebbles. or other ornamental particles 8 as described. in connee tion with the base and columns after which concrete is poured into the space 16 to form the top 17 of the column 131 The ring 15.

may be either removed or left in its opening 18 as desired. The purpose of this opening is to permit the sand withinthe column,

forming the cylinder '7 to be dumped out after the top of the column has been formed.

This opening 18 has a further function which will be pointed. out hereinafter.

The next. step after the formation of the top of the column is'to form the pedestal 24 forsupporting the bowl 29. In the fo-rmation of this pedestal 24, another frame, 5 is used which is similar in all respects. to the frames used in the construction of the colbranches 23 of the pipe.

umn. A spider 19 is placed upon the top of, the frame and supports from its under side a form 20 which latter is secured to the spider by means of screws 21 or other suitable fastening means. The spider 19 with its depending form 20 havng been positioned upon frame 5, sand is packed within the mold to the top edges thereof, the form 20 making a depression in the sand the size of the pedestal. The form 20 has a central vertical opening which permits the reception of a pipe 22,- which latter is provided at its bottom end witha plurality ofplateral branches 23 which form the support for the bowl 29 as will presently appear. The pipe 22 fits loosely within the form 20 so that it will remain in thesand. after the spider with its form has been rem-ovedl The form 20 having been removed,the wall of the de- 1 pressionis studded with pebbles .or other particles 8 whereupon the depression is filled with'conerete to form the pedestal 24-. The pipe 22 will now be firmly cemented into the pedestal and willprovide a means of communication therethrough.

The pedestal 24 is the third of the units to be formed, but if desired it can be made first, and allowed toset until the column 13 has'been completed.

The pedestal 2 1 having beenhmade, its frame5 is'inverted and placed upon the uppermost frame 5, the pedestal restingupon thetop 17 of the column 13, and the pipe 22 registering With the ring 15 closing the open ing 18 in' the top of the pedestal. M

The nextoperation is the formation of the "bowl 29-. Ap'lug 27 is first placed in the upperend; of the pipe 22 to prevent sand or concrete from entering therein. A quantity of sand must be scooped out from around the branches 23 of the pipe 22' to .form a depression .for the reception of a sectional semi-spherical .form 26 for outlining the lower portion of the bowl wall 29. It has been found preferable to make this form 26 sectional so that it may be fitted around the The upper portion of the wall of the bowl is designed by means of a form 25 which is suspended from a spider 19 by means of screws or other fasteners 21 in a manner similar to the fo-rm20 described in connection withthe formation of the pedestal 24; An additional frame 5 is added to support the spider 19. spider 19?, with its form 25 beingin place, sand is filled in aroundthe edgesthereof and firmly packed to design the outer wall portion of the bowl. Pebbles will of course be placed upon the top of the column13 around the space to be occupied by the pedestal 24 before the latter is placed thereon. The outline ofthe bowl of ,the stand having been designed by the f0rms25 and 26, these latter are removed and the recess 1n the sand studded with pebbles or other The n ornamental particles in any preferred design, after which a small quantity of concrete is poured in, it being sufficient to cover the branches 23' of the pipe 22. Sand 7 is then poured in on top of the cement a little at a time and molded as shown in Fig. 9 to form a circumferential channel 28 equidistant from the pebble-studded wall of the recess. Concrete is poured in this space 28 to the level of the sand. The sand 7 is gradually built up along the dotted lines in Fig. 9, concrete being poured into the space 28 a little at a time as previously described, and the bowl of the stand is completed in an obvious manner.

From the foregoing description read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the method of construction of my improved stand will be readily apparent. The pedestal 24: and the top 17 of the column being relatively soft when applied to each other will adhere together firmly so as to make the stand a solid unit. The branches 23 serve to stiffen the bowl and render it an integral part of the pedestal 24.

The bowl 29 is adapted for the reception of earth in which growing plants or flowers may be placed. In order to assure a supply of moisture through the earth to be placed inside of the bowl 29, I have provided the filler tube 32. the mouth of which rests just below the rim of the bowl, while its stem follows the contour of the rim and opens into the top of the pipe 22 thus permitting water to be introduced through the mouth of the tube and down into the open interior of the column 13. A hole 34 may be drilled in the lower portion of the column wall and closed by a plug to permit draining oil of the water from within the column as desired. A wick 33 of any suitable material may be disposed into the column 13 from the top thereof which will assist in keeping the earth within the bowl moist.

This invention is capable of many changes and modifications which will innnediately suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and I therefore wish it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact details as set forth but only to the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The method of forming ornamental articles from plastic material comprising the successive formation of parts of said article by the formation of depressions in molding sand the walls of said depressions defining the outer contour of said parts, then embedding ornamental objects in the walls of said depression, pouring plastic material into said depressions and uniting said parts in assembled relation while in a semi-plastic condition.

2. The method of forming a stand having a hollow support, comprising forming a depression in molding sand to define the outer contour of a base, lining the inner walls of said depression with ornamental particles, fillin'g said depression with plastic material, next forming a sand column upon the formed plastic material and building a sand wall about said base in spaced relation to said sand column, studding the sand wall with ormanmental particles, filling the space between the sand wall and column with plastic material, next building sand above the top of the walls of the support thus formed from the plastic material and forming a depression in said sand, lining the wall of the depression with ornamental particles and filling said depression with plastic material to form the top of the stand, maintaining an opening in the plastic material in the top, next forming a depression in molding sand in the shape of a bowl lining the wall of the depression with ornamental particles and a plastic material while maint aining an opening in the bottom, and then filling the concrete lining with sand periodically.

3. The method of forming a stand having a hollow support, comprising forming a depression in molding sand to define the outer contour of a base, lining the inner walls of said depression with ornamental particles, filling said depression with plastic material, next forming a sand column upon the formed plastic material and building a sand wall about said base in spaced relation to said sand column, studding the sand wall with ornamental particles, filling the space between the sand wall and column with plastic material, next building sand above the top of the walls of the support thus formed from the plastic material and forming a depression in said sand, lining the wall of the depression with ornamental particles and filling said depression. with plastic material to form the top of the stand, maintaining an opening in the plastic material in the top, next forming a depression in molding sand in the shape of abowl, lining the wall of the depression with ornamental particles and a plastic material while maintaining an opening in the bottom, and then periodically filling the concrete lining with sand, cementing the bowl, before the plastic materials have set, to the top of the stand, then removing the sand from the bowl by the openings in the bowl and the stand.

4:. The method of forming a stand, comprising the sectional formation of a mold, studding the interior of said mold sections with ornamental particles, pouring plastic material into said mold sections to form the various portions of said stand, and assembling said mold sections while the various sections of the stand body are in a semiplastic condition, and permittt-ingg said assembled mold sections to stand until' the vario-usportions of the stand have become united and hardened;

5. A stand of plastic material lraving a.v base i portion comprising; a hollow column having anoutlet opening therein, aspedestal mounted upon said column and retaineda in place thereon, said pedestal liayiingya oomnnmicating duot opening; theiiethrougli and into theinterior ofsaid column, a bowl supported by saidpedestah andinto Whiehsaid pedestal duetoonnnunioa-tes, retaining; elements carried by said pedestal. and! e1n-. bedded in said bowl ffor supportingmnd stifiening the'same.

6. A stand ot-fplastiomaterial!having a base portion coin-prising a hollow? column havingan outlet opening: therein, apedestalmounted upon said columns and I retained in plaice thereoin; said pedestaleliawinga oom-; municating duet opening theretlirough and a into the interior of said eolummy a; bowl:- supported' by :said' pedestal and in-to,lwhiol1 I said pedestal duct communicates, retaining elements carried by said\pedestal and, .e1n-

bedded in said bQWL for supporting; and stiffening t-hesame, and a pipe Carried by said bowl adj aeentaoneside thereof and openintot said. oolumn. v

7;. A standof; plast cwmaterial having a base pODtlOIL- comprising a v=l1o1low. column having an outlet opening therein, a pedestal, mounted upon said .oolu-nm and retained.

in place thereon, said pedestal having oommunioating duet open ng tlie 'ethrongli and nitothe interior ofsatd oolumn ,a :bOlVl supported by said pedestalvand intowhich said pedestal duct oonnnunioates, retaining elements carried by said. pedestal. and embedded in said bowl -forzsup-p.orting and stiffening the same, and strips ofabsorbent niatenial; disposed in said duct and extend ing from saidborwlinto the inteniol' of said column;

In-testimony whereof (I :aifiXwmy signatin-e.-

ALLEN A. LYON; 

